Vitamin B12 and folate status in early pregnancy and cardiometabolic risk factors in the offspring at age 5-6 years: findings from the ABCD multi-ethnic birth cohort

Objective: To explore whether maternal vitamin B12 and folate status during early pregnancy are associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in the offspring at age 5-6.

Design: Prospective multi-ethnic birth cohort, the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development study (ABCD).

Setting: 12,373 pregnant women living in Amsterdam were approached between 2003 and 2004 for participation in the study.

Population: Mother-child pairs for whom information on maternal vitamin B12 or folate status in early gestation and health at age 5-6 years was available (n = 1950).

Methods: Vitamin B12 and folate concentrations were determined in maternal serum at intake in early pregnancy (median 13 weeks' gestation). Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure and fasting blood samples were collected during a health check of children aged 5-6 years. Multiple linear regression was performed to investigate the association between maternal serum concentrations and children's outcomes, corrected for confounders.

Main outcome measures: Gestational age at birth, birthweight, body mass index (BMI), glucose levels, triglyceride levels, blood pressure and heart rate of the offspring at age 5-6.

Results: Low maternal folate levels during early pregnancy were associated with slightly higher BMI in the offspring [decrease per 10 units: β 0.07 kg/m(2), 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01, 0.13]. Low maternal vitamin B12 concentrations were associated with higher heart rates (decrease per 100 units: β 0.49 beats/min, 95% CI 0.11, 0.87).

Conclusion: This study provides further evidence that maternal nutrition in early pregnancy may possibly program cardiometabolic health of the offspring.

Tweetable abstract: Low folate and vitamin B12 levels during pregnancy are associated with higher BMI and heart rate in offspring.